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metres, is no doubt the one best stocked with fish, and besides char
and trout there are thought to be two other species, called locally
“Murta“ and “Depla“. Up to the present, however, these two varieties
have not been definitely classified. Some experts think they may prove
to be no more than char at immature state of development. From
80000 up to 200000 fish are taken out of the Thingvallavatn every
year, while the annual catch of fresh water fish, over the whole
country, rarely exceeds half a million,
Arnarvatn, which is the largest of the group of lakes called West
ern Fiskivétn, is a great deal beiter for rod fishing than the Thing-
vallavatn, although it is much smaller and not half so well stocked
with fish as the other.
The Eastern Fiskivstn or VeiBivstn are also said to afford very
good fishing, but they are more difficult of approach than most other
lakes in Iceland; nevertheless, some of the farmers from the nearest
districts net several of them.
During the last few years about 40 hatcheries, both for salmon and
char, have been put up in various places.